Five disputations of church-government and worship

Sect. 31. Argument 4. If Ordination by such as the English Bishops be of Necessity to the Ministry and Churches, then was there no true Ministry and Churches in the Scripture times, nor in many years after: But the consequent is false; therefore so is the Antecedent. The reason of the Consequence is because there were no such Bishops in those times; and this is already proved, they being neither the Itinerant Apostolical sort of Bishops▪ nor the fixed Pastors of particular Churches; besides which there were no other.

Sect. 32. Argument 5. If Ordination by such as the English Prelates be Necessary to the Being of the Ministry and Churches, then none of the Protestants that have not such Prelates (which is almost all) are true Churches or have true Ministers: But the Consequent is false: therefore so is the Antecedent. Of this I shall say more anon.

Sect. 33. If none of the Protestants Churches that have not such Bishops are true Churches, and have not a true Ministry, then neither Roman, Greek, Armenian, Ethiopian, &c. or almost any through the world are true Churches: For they are defective in some greater matters, and chargeable with greater errors then these. But the Consequent is false; therefore so is the Antecedent. He that denieth all these to be true Churches, denieth the Catholic Church: And he that denieth the Catholic Church, is next to the denying of Christ.

Sect. 33. If none of the Protestants Churches that have not such Bishops are true Churches, and have not a true Ministry, then neither Roman, Greek, Armenian, Aethiopian, &c. or almost any through the world are true Churches: For they are defective in some greater matters, and chargeable with greater errors then these. But the Consequent is false; therefore so is the Antecedent. He that denyeth all these to be true Churches, denyeth the Catholick Church: And he that denyeth the Catholick Church, is next to the denying of Christ.